Toulouse opened up a six-point lead at the top of the French Top 14 on Sunday after a hard-fought 23-16 win at home over Castres.

Toulouse had been assured of holding their advantage before kick-off after second-placed Montpellier were earlier beaten 28-16 by third-placed Racing-Metro.

The defeat was bitter for Castres, who have not won in Toulouse since 1995 and had come into the game brimming with ambition after a five-match unbeaten run.

Full-back Maxime Medard opened for Toulouse after just five minutes as the Top 14's top scorer touched down his eleventh try of the season.

But Castres kept in touch with two penalties off the boot of Romain Teulet before Marc Andreu touched down for the vistors and Teulet converted to lead 7-13 after 20 minutes.

Toulouse battled back and thanks to David Skrela levelled 13-13 before the break.

Little separated the sides and a yellow card handed out to Castres flanker Ibrahim Diarra after 61 minutes for repeated fouls would prove the decider as Toulouse captain Thierry Dusautoir pushed through a try which gave them a 23-16 lead.

Toulouse held their advantage until the final whistle and maintained their unbeaten run at home, as Castres drop two places to sixth.

Castres back Teulet rued the yellow card. "It was the turning point of the match. That undermined us because I think overall we were up for it," he said.

"It's a pity to die like that because given the showing of Toulouse we could have done something this evening."

Toulouse backs coach Jean-Baptiste Elissalde added: "It's an important victory. We knew this match would be complicated and it proved to be. But we managed to bounce back every time we got into difficulty."

They have been doing well, but not great. As of yet they are not winning by big scores. They are happy to win with David Skrela accumulating points via his unreliable boot.

They only got one try vs Castres who have a terrible defensive back three. Toulouse´s centres and wingers should have attacked here perhaps.

This weekend they´ll play at the Stade de France vs Stade Français and probably field a weakened side. Servat is already confirmed out of the match. SF have been really inconsistant. Beauxis has not been good. Strange since he was so good 3-4 years ago as a sub. He is rumoured to be leaving the club. Looks like SF don´t care as Paul Warwick (Munster) is going to sign. SF have too many players to choose from and really ought to get a win this weekend. They need to stop farting around and pick their best XV. ie:

A team with 14 internationals representing elite teams is in the bottom half of the ladder? Really, come on!

Really, the interesting thing for me, is the relegation. The bottom 4 is clear with Perpignan 11 points above 11th placed side Agen. It is Agen, Brive and La Rochelle battling it out to avoid 13th spot with Bourgoin clearly the worst team and well behind on 14th.

But, back to the top. Stade Français and Toulon will rise up. Castres will fall.

My real interest is Montpellier - can they keep it up? Their goalkicker Martín Bustos Moyano (uncapped for Argentina which is beyond belief) broke his arm on Sunday vs Racing Metro. François Trinh-Duc looks like missing this weekends match too, which is a massive one vs Perpignan. But they do have replacements now unlike last year. Charles will give some interesting feedback about this game and Montpellier in general.

Lastly, I would like to pay tribute to the father of a legend - Juan Martín Hernández missed his teams match (Racing Metro vs Montpellier) on Sunday as he had to be in Buenos Aires due to the tragic death of his father. As it happens RM won the game and Italian prop Andrea Lo Cicero dedicated it to Hernández.

Gavin

04-01-11, 08:35 PM

How is Cacau doing in Toulouse? Saw he started 13 against Castres and set up one of the tries. Is he preforming well?

Charles

05-01-11, 02:35 AM

Beauxis has not been good. Strange since he was so good 3-4 years ago as a sub. He is rumoured to be leaving the club.

My real interest is Montpellier - can they keep it up? Their goalkicker Martín Bustos Moyano (uncapped for Argentina which is beyond belief) broke his arm on Sunday vs Racing Metro. François Trinh-Duc looks like missing this weekends match too, which is a massive one vs Perpignan. But they do have replacements now unlike last year. Charles will give some interesting feedback about this game and Montpellier in general.

Lastly, I would like to pay tribute to the father of a legend - Juan Martín Hernández missed his teams match (Racing Metro vs Montpellier) on Sunday as he had to be in Buenos Aires due to the tragic death of his father. As it happens RM won the game and Italian prop Andrea Lo Cicero dedicated it to Hernández.

Beauxis has never been truely top class. For a start, he's never really been the starting SO, even when Hernandez was injured. He's also made of cardboard, which doesn't help him.

Montpellier, well I don't think they'll hold. Their game style has been well deciphered now, they are starting to run out of puff while all the big teams are starting to get into the groove...Will be difficult although a place in the top 6 should be feasible.

How is Cacau doing in Toulouse? Saw he started 13 against Castres and set up one of the tries. Is he preforming well?

He's fat and getting carded almost every game so far...Noves is probably not too happy...

TRF_nickdnz

05-01-11, 05:06 AM

Caucaunibuca v Bastareaud
The battle of the chubby centres.

Amobokoboko

05-01-11, 05:31 PM

One game I don't wanna miss

tinchy17

06-01-11, 02:11 PM

I understand that Toulouse are a quality team, but in reality they are a big bunch of babies.

TRF_nickdnz

06-01-11, 02:15 PM

I understand that Toulouse are a quality team, but in reality they are a big bunch of babies.

Care to elaborate?

munstermuffin

06-01-11, 02:15 PM

Saracenangel - it obvious you never watch Top14.

And bit rich for a Sarries fan to call anyone a baby :p

tinchy17

06-01-11, 02:17 PM

Well they basically only scraped a victory against Glasgow on both occasions, so in theory, like Clermont, they're ferrets

TRF_nickdnz

06-01-11, 02:25 PM

Well they basically only scraped a victory against Glasgow on both occasions, so in theory, like Clermont, they're ferrets
Well, they've won 4 more Heineken Cup titles than Saracens so...

And a 36-10 win is hardly scraping it.

Gavin

06-01-11, 02:36 PM

well they basically only scraped a victory against glasgow on both occasions, so in theory, like clermont, they're ferrets

-1 rep

Feicarsinn

06-01-11, 02:48 PM

Well they basically only scraped a victory against Glasgow on both occasions, so in theory, like Clermont, they're ferrets

I agree. They fluked their way to those Heineken Cups and don't even mention the seventeen Top14 titles. Worst team to have won a HC by a mile.

munstermuffin

06-01-11, 02:51 PM

Ha ha fluke too that they 1 of the most attractive style teams around while also having the ability to do dirty work too.

I think Angel doesn't even know Sarries are a rugby team and just comes on stirring :)

This is from someone before who struggled to even name a few Sarries players

tinchy17

06-01-11, 02:56 PM

I do know Sarries are a rugby team, munstermuffin!!

durbutter

06-01-11, 03:06 PM

Jerry jerry!!!!!

tinchy17

06-01-11, 03:08 PM

Jerry jerry!!!!!

Whats that meant to mean

munstermuffin

06-01-11, 03:12 PM

Jerry Jerry he is the sarries new young kid :D
And you know they a rugby team well then we have a start :)

tinchy17

06-01-11, 04:05 PM

Jerry Jerry he is the sarries new young kid :D
And you know they a rugby team well then we have a start :)